Published: Monday, December 3, 2012 at 1:05 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, December 3, 2012 at 1:05 a.m.

LAKELAND | As a senior at Lakeland High School George Overstreet listed in his 1948 high school yearbook, almost as a joke he said, that his goal was to be a ship's captain.

Facts

GEORGE HAROLD OVERSTREET

Age: 83.Place of Birth: Lakeland.Date of Birth: Nov. 22, 1929.Occupation: Retired naval officer and supertanker captain.Education: Lakeland High School; Naval Postgraduate School.Family: Wife, Alice; daughter, Cindy Connors; two grandchildren, seven great grandchildren.Quote: "I think given the opportunity people will help with charities and those less fortunate."Favorite Food: SeafoodFavorite Beverage: "Dirty vodka martini straight up."Most Recent Book: "In the Garden of Beasts" by Eric Larson. A story of the last American ambassador to Germany before World War II. Car: 2007 Toyota Avalon.Hobby: Traveling. "I have been around the world twice and we've visited 65 countries and islands."

Now 83, after almost three decades in the Navy, leaving at the rank of commander, and another 20 years as captain of supertankers, Overstreet is sailing the waters of charity. He is giving back to his community especially using his military discipline to help organize for Toys For Tots.

George Harold Overstreet was born at home in Lakeland, Nov. 22, 1929.

He grew up in Lakeland when it was a small town with the values of the time.

"It was wonderful because you didn't have all the rules you do today," he said of city statutes.

"If we wanted to fish, we fished. If we wanted to go hunting, we did. If you wanted to cut a down a tree, you could and you could go camping where we wanted," he said.

But it didn't mean kids ran wild.

"Everybody knew who you were and where you were. I have a necking certificate for Polk Theatre in the balcony," he said with a laugh.

But one thing wasn't fun in his senior year.

"Lakeland High football wasn't quite what it is today," Overstreet recalled. "In the senior year, our football team was terrible. We lost every game but one. That one we tied. I was second string and held down the right side of the bench all season. Lawton Chiles was in my class and on the team, and he got to play every game."

Overstreet joined the Navy right out of high school because of the opportunity to get training and, he hoped, a civilian job later. After attending two years of college through the University of Maryland extension schools while in the Navy, he finished college at the Navy Post Graduate School.

During his Navy career, he went from an enlisted man to commander, married and had a daughter, Cindy.

In 1977 after leaving the Navy, Overstreet became captain of a supertanker.

"The tanker was three football fields long and a football field wide, and the bridge was 10 stories above the water," he said. "We carried liquid methane so that we could haul more. When it got to Japan, it was reprocessed into natural gas."

Overstreet said his schedule in the Merchant Marine was interesting.

"It was four months at sea and four months back in Lakeland," he said. "I had some rentals, and I would just get finished taking care of them and be back at sea."

Divorced from his first wife, Overstreet is married to Alice Ray-Overstreet. The couple married in 1986.

With a daughter, two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren all living within 20 minutes of him, Overstreet said he plans to stay right where he is.

He retired from the Merchant Marine in 1998, unaware that a new "career" was about to start. He joined the Symphony Guild because of his love of classical music and worked briefly with Habitat for Humanity.

"In 2001, Alice wanted to help pack toys for the Marine Reserves' Toys For Tots program," he said. "I went, too. By the end of the week I was in charge of the warehouse and by the end of the year, I was in charge for of the program for the 2002 and 2003 years.

"It was just something we strayed into. I thought of those children with nothing for Christmas. Luckily, I don't deal directly with them because it would just break my heart."

George and Alice, who is the retired director of technology for the Polk County school system, are still heavily involved in the Toys For Tots program. He also acts as recruiter for volunteers and donors, emphasizing the importance of children's charities.

For many years Overstreet has been a driving force behind the program, friends say, and continues to do so, although he praises those in charge of the program now. And he is praised for his energy.

"He's the Energizer Bunny," his wife said. "He never stops and for retired military, he has a heart of gold. He wants to help those kids."

Overstreet noted he used to have quite a temper but brought it under control. Much of his success at that has been to his charity work after retirement from two successful careers.

He said he doesn't think his charity work is different from what most people would do.

"I think given the opportunity people will help, but a lot of it is letting them know. And a lot just give money," said Overstreet who is currently co-chair of the group and who handles a lot of the public relations.

"There is so much need out there. We have a friend who works with homeless children They have a place to stay with her during the day, but at night nowhere, so we have given money to help them stay in a motel for a few days to get clean and stay warm."

Bernie Heisler is commandant of the local Marine Corps League and the coordinator for the local Toys For Tots.

"I'm the pup in the group because I am only 65," Heisler said. "I'd be lost without George. When you get down to November and December it is almost like a 24-hour-a-day job."

Neighbor Bill Turpin said it is Overstreet's athleticism that keeps him going.

"I'm 53 and he's 83," Turpin said. "I'm taking notes on this guy because I want to be able to do what he does at his age.

"We go to the gym together and he pushes me. I take my child to school while he is setting me up at the gym. When I get there he is ready to go. He definitely is physically fit."

[ Bill Rufty can be reached at 802-7523 or bill.rufty@theledger.com. ]

<p>LAKELAND | As a senior at Lakeland High School George Overstreet listed in his 1948 high school yearbook, almost as a joke he said, that his goal was to be a ship's captain.</p><p>Now 83, after almost three decades in the Navy, leaving at the rank of commander, and another 20 years as captain of supertankers, Overstreet is sailing the waters of charity. He is giving back to his community especially using his military discipline to help organize for Toys For Tots.</p><p>George Harold Overstreet was born at home in Lakeland, Nov. 22, 1929. </p><p>He grew up in Lakeland when it was a small town with the values of the time.</p><p>"It was wonderful because you didn't have all the rules you do today," he said of city statutes. </p><p>"If we wanted to fish, we fished. If we wanted to go hunting, we did. If you wanted to cut a down a tree, you could and you could go camping where we wanted," he said. </p><p>But it didn't mean kids ran wild.</p><p>"Everybody knew who you were and where you were. I have a necking certificate for Polk Theatre in the balcony," he said with a laugh.</p><p>But one thing wasn't fun in his senior year.</p><p>"Lakeland High football wasn't quite what it is today," Overstreet recalled. "In the senior year, our football team was terrible. We lost every game but one. That one we tied. I was second string and held down the right side of the bench all season. Lawton Chiles was in my class and on the team, and he got to play every game." </p><p>Overstreet joined the Navy right out of high school because of the opportunity to get training and, he hoped, a civilian job later. After attending two years of college through the University of Maryland extension schools while in the Navy, he finished college at the Navy Post Graduate School.</p><p>During his Navy career, he went from an enlisted man to commander, married and had a daughter, Cindy. </p><p>In 1977 after leaving the Navy, Overstreet became captain of a supertanker. </p><p>"The tanker was three football fields long and a football field wide, and the bridge was 10 stories above the water," he said. "We carried liquid methane so that we could haul more. When it got to Japan, it was reprocessed into natural gas."</p><p>Overstreet said his schedule in the Merchant Marine was interesting.</p><p>"It was four months at sea and four months back in Lakeland," he said. "I had some rentals, and I would just get finished taking care of them and be back at sea."</p><p>Divorced from his first wife, Overstreet is married to Alice Ray-Overstreet. The couple married in 1986. </p><p>With a daughter, two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren all living within 20 minutes of him, Overstreet said he plans to stay right where he is.</p><p>He retired from the Merchant Marine in 1998, unaware that a new "career" was about to start. He joined the Symphony Guild because of his love of classical music and worked briefly with Habitat for Humanity.</p><p>"In 2001, Alice wanted to help pack toys for the Marine Reserves' Toys For Tots program," he said. "I went, too. By the end of the week I was in charge of the warehouse and by the end of the year, I was in charge for of the program for the 2002 and 2003 years.</p><p>"It was just something we strayed into. I thought of those children with nothing for Christmas. Luckily, I don't deal directly with them because it would just break my heart."</p><p>George and Alice, who is the retired director of technology for the Polk County school system, are still heavily involved in the Toys For Tots program. He also acts as recruiter for volunteers and donors, emphasizing the importance of children's charities.</p><p>For many years Overstreet has been a driving force behind the program, friends say, and continues to do so, although he praises those in charge of the program now. And he is praised for his energy.</p><p>"He's the Energizer Bunny," his wife said. "He never stops and for retired military, he has a heart of gold. He wants to help those kids."</p><p>Overstreet noted he used to have quite a temper but brought it under control. Much of his success at that has been to his charity work after retirement from two successful careers.</p><p>He said he doesn't think his charity work is different from what most people would do.</p><p>"I think given the opportunity people will help, but a lot of it is letting them know. And a lot just give money," said Overstreet who is currently co-chair of the group and who handles a lot of the public relations. </p><p>"There is so much need out there. We have a friend who works with homeless children They have a place to stay with her during the day, but at night nowhere, so we have given money to help them stay in a motel for a few days to get clean and stay warm."</p><p>Bernie Heisler is commandant of the local Marine Corps League and the coordinator for the local Toys For Tots.</p><p>"I'm the pup in the group because I am only 65," Heisler said. "I'd be lost without George. When you get down to November and December it is almost like a 24-hour-a-day job."</p><p>Neighbor Bill Turpin said it is Overstreet's athleticism that keeps him going.</p><p>"I'm 53 and he's 83," Turpin said. "I'm taking notes on this guy because I want to be able to do what he does at his age.</p><p>"We go to the gym together and he pushes me. I take my child to school while he is setting me up at the gym. When I get there he is ready to go. He definitely is physically fit."</p><p>[ Bill Rufty can be reached at 802-7523 or bill.rufty@theledger.com. ]</p>